Aslan awoke in an unfamiliar room, disoriented. His body felt tingly. The room was sparsely furnished, with just a dresser, nightstand, chair, table, and the bed he was lying in. There was a window on the side of the room as well, but the curtain was closed, and a door on the other side of the room, which was also closed. A small lantern on the ceiling emitted a warm light in the room. He wondered, how long was I out? Aslan stared up at the ceiling, as memories from that night flashed in his head: the festival, the performances, the shooting stars, as well as the fight and the goddess. The image of the ruined village lingered in his mind as he thought, So, it wasn’t all a dream, then. He got out of bed and opened the window; the view was breathtaking. The sun shone in a cloudless sky over the land, as a strong gust of wind washed over him. He was in a large building, surrounded by thick forest all around, and he could see above the treetops. I don’t recognize this forest, but it doesn’t look like we’ve left Serenia; we must be pretty far from Layton Village, he thought. If the Goddess held up her end of the contract, then everyone should have been able to escape, which means they must be out there somewhere. It’s up to me to find them, including Oscar and Irene. I don’t know who brought me here or where I am, but I’ll have to take my first opportunity to escape from here.

  As he pondered his thoughts, the door opened. Aslan looked back to see an unfamiliar face, a woman. Her skin was very pale, with very light blonde hair, light green eyes, and she wore white, flowy garb, akin to the outfits of healers Aslan had seen rarely before. She looked almost like a ghost. She carried a tray with water and white powder. Upon seeing Aslan, she said, “Oh, so you’re awake. Come here, have a seat,” in a very soft voice. “Who are you? Where am I? What is this pl-” Aslan asked, but the woman cut him off. “I’m sure you have many questions, but for now, just sit down and take this medicine,” she said. Aslan complied, sitting on the bed, as she mixed the powder into the water. “So, can you at least give me a run-down of what’s going on here, and who you are?” Aslan asked. “Sure, currently, you’re in Eclair’s Temple. This is where the Goddess Eclair resides, as well as her army, and it is her place of worship. After answering the contract that our Goddess offered to you, the imprinting of the contract caused you to lose consciousness. You were brought here since you’re now a part of her army, where you will learn everything related to the protection and mission of our Goddess. As for me, I am Sana, and I am the resident healer of Eclair’s forces,” she said. “And how long was I out?” Aslan asked. “One week,” Sana replied, “now here, drink this.” Aslan obliged.

  After the healer, Sana, left, two soldiers entered the room. “Aslan, you have been called into the Divine Hall. Please come with us,” one soldier said. Aslan complied. Walking through the building, Aslan studied the architecture. It was clearly aged, but it had been restored quite well. Judging from the structure of the building, it seemed almost like a castle. They passed by many different types of rooms; it seemed like this building had nearly everything, including barracks, an armory, a cafeteria, an infirmary, and more. Finally, they reached the entrance to the Divine Hall. The door was large, with a crest in the middle. The crest was an eight-point star; in its center was an eye, encased in flame. As the soldiers opened the door, Aslan felt a chill run down his spine as the goddess’s overwhelming presence washed over him once more. The room was dark, but Aslan knew she was there. He stepped forward into the room, walking on the red carpet stretched out in front of him. As he moved past, small flames lit up on the sides of the carpet, illuminating the path behind him.

  Aslan reached the end of the room, and it suddenly lit up. He looked up to see the Goddess Eclair sitting on a throne in front of him, with the commander at her side. She looked down at Aslan, “Kneel,” she commanded. Aslan felt a surge of force push him down, involuntarily putting him on his knees. I didn’t even have a chance to resist! Aslan screamed in his thoughts. “Welcome, Aslan, to my temple. As one contracted with me, you are now part of my army. Here is where you will live and grow your dedication to me.” Eclair stood up from the throne and stepped forward. “Now, as per the terms of the contract, I allowed the villagers to flee, as for what comes after is up to them to survive.” I can’t fight against her like this. I’ll have to endure it and play along. Aslan thought, as he said, “I thank you for your graciousness, Goddess Eclair.” She smiled, “As for my end of the contract, I have granted you that which you have sought for so long. You now possess the ability to wield my magic, as I have permitted it. Perhaps you have felt a new sensation dwelling within you,” she said, as she relieved the pressure on Aslan. She’s right, that must be what this tingling feeling is, Aslan thought. “Yes, I have felt something different since I awoke earlier,” he said, as he stood up. “I’ve never felt anything like this before. Is this what magic feels like?” he asked. “Now that you’re aware of it, why don’t we have you test it out, shall we?” Eclair said, motioning to the commander, as she sat back down. The commander jumped down from Eclair’s side, standing a few paces beside Aslan. “I want the two of you to spar here. Whether you can use the magic, or whether you want to or not, is up to you.” “You want me to fight him right here? I can’t do that, I just woke up from being out for an entire week,” Aslan said. The goddess’s smile faded, “You dare to disobey me? You must have a death wish. Perhaps I should show you what would happen if you were to breach our contract,” she said. Her eyes flashed red, and the area around Aslan became dark, as if he were being enveloped. The darkness felt suffocating, and Aslan felt the same fear as when he first encountered the goddess. Suddenly, he felt a pain in his chest. He clutched at his chest, terror washing over him. He fell to his knees and broke into a cold sweat, as he could not feel his heartbeat. He looked up at the goddess, who was holding his heart in her hand. “If, by my decree, you breach the terms of our contract, I will crush your heart right then and there,” she said, as a wicked smile grew across her face. She dropped Aslan’s heart, which reappeared inside his body, as the darkness subsided. Aslan’s body was shaking; he held his hand over his heart, feeling its rhythmic beats inside him once more, as his breathing returned to normal. “I hope you understand your situation a little better now,” Eclair said. Aslan got back on his feet, looking at the goddess, “Yes, my lady,” he said, bowing his head slightly. He turned to face the commander, as the commander did the same. Here we go, he thought, getting his body ready. He had no way to elude this.

  Aslan started the fight off, charging towards the commander, who stood perfectly still. First off, I should get a feel of how my body feels. There may be a difference now that I have mana, he thought. As he approached, he jumped into the air, spinning around and planting a kick directly into the commander’s midsection, who absorbed the hit, not even moving an inch. After landing, Aslan backpeddled to create some distance. No effect?! How strong is his armor? Or maybe that’s just his own strength. It’s insane, his thoughts were racing, unnerving him. However, that kick felt good; my body feels both nimbler and stronger. It’s like I’ve been given a subtle boost. Anyway, if he’s going to stand still, I’ll just keep at it until he can’t stand anymore. He charged yet again, sending a flurry of blows from every angle, as the commander continued to absorb the attacks, staying perfectly still. The goddess watched on with a smile on her face, “I’ve ordered him not to attack, and to focus completely on defense,” she said. Ah, so that’s what it is, Aslan thought, she’s testing me. He continued his onslaught before finally backing off to catch his breath. The tingling feeling that Aslan felt earlier had grown now. Within him, he could feel the mana surging, as if it was begging to be released. “Done yet?” the commander said, as he crossed his arms. “Not yet,” Aslan said. If I’m going to get through him, I’ll have to try and use this magic, he thought. Aslan closed his eyes, focusing on perceiving his own body. He imagined the mana swirling around inside him. He remembered what Oscar had told him years ago about the feeling of using magic. Opening his eyes, he put his hands out, with the image of the mana leaving his body. He yelled out, and in an instant, the mana inside Aslan’s body was forced out, all at once, creating a bright flash which converted into an explosion. The force of it filled the room, sending out a shockwave. Aslan was sent flying backwards, slamming into one of the columns in the room.

  As the smoke subsided, it revealed the commander, armor cracked, blood dripping from his head and torso, and breathing heavily. His arms were crossed in front of his body. Eclair rose from her throne. She was completely spotless, as was the area around her. She began clapping, “Marvelous. That was a great display, though perhaps you ought to be more conservative next time,” she said. Aslan scrambled to his feet and looked around. To his surprise, the area was completely fine, as if nothing had happened in the first place. “You’re probably wondering how this room is fine. Of course, it’s because of my magic. This is my domain, after all,” With a wave of her hand, the commander was fully healed and his armor repaired, and Aslan felt fully refreshed. This place has been designated to be completely manipulatable by me, at will,” Eclair said, “Onto the main point. It’s high time you were introduced. Aslan, this is Commander Ulysses, one of the highest generals of my army, and he is the one who will be your mentor. You’re going to learn from him, in order to provide the best service you possibly can to me.” You can’t be serious, Aslan thought. The guy who helped destroy my village is the one to be my mentor? I guess, there’s no point dwelling on it, after all, I can’t disobey. “And on that note,” Ulysses said, “I’ve got your first assignment already.”

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  Aslan’s stomach growled as the guards escorted him past the cafeteria. I probably haven’t eaten in the week that I was out, and I’m hungry after that fight, he thought. “Hey, could I get something to eat before we get there?” Aslan asked the soldiers. They looked at each other, then looked to Aslan and said, “Make it quick.” Aslan entered the cafeteria, noticing how large it was. If this is the size of the cafeteria, it might give me a glimpse into how big Eclair’s army might be. If I end up on the run from them, I’ll need to know that, he thought, though, now that I know what happens if I breach the contract, is it even possible for me to escape? I’ll have to think of a loophole to get out of the contract. The food in the cafeteria was buffet-style. Members of the army were scattered about at the many tables in the room. Aslan made himself a simple plate, making sure he kept a balanced palate, as he is quite particular about taking care of his body. He sat down at a table on his own, away from the other people in the room. As he ate, he looked around, studying the different types of people in the room. While most were soldiers, some seemed to be non-combatants, such as diplomats, smiths, and scientists. He also noticed that many of the people in the room were watching him back, some glaring, whispering among each other. Aslan didn’t need his sharp hearing to know they were talking about him. The simple fact that the goddess formed a contract with him, rather than simply giving him her blessing, was enough to make others jealous of him. All of these people were extremely dedicated to the Goddess Eclair, and they would do anything to get closer to her. As he ate, his mind drifted back to the feeling of using magic for the first time. I have to admit, it felt incredible, but at the same time, something felt wrong. Perhaps it’s due to the fact that I have gained magic at a much older age than some others, or maybe skill with magic is just lacking. I’ll likely have to find a way to control my mana in combat better, in order to prevent using up my mana all at once, he thought.

  He finished eating, and as he was about to leave the cafeteria, he heard a voice behind him, “You’ve got quite the interesting mana signature.” Aslan turned around to see a young man, a human, seemingly slightly older than him, standing behind him. He had a handsome face, with a thin mustache and hair on his chin. Standing at the same height as Aslan, his skin was tan, with long, curly hair that reached down to his shoulders. He was wearing a black robe with the same crest Aslan had seen on the door earlier. “Huh? Who are you?” Aslan asked, surprised. I didn’t even sense this guy behind me. How did he conceal his presence like that? He must have incredible mana control, perhaps I could get someone like him to help me, he thought. “Oh, my apologies, I should introduce myself. My name is Nasah, and I oversee the mage corps,” the man said, giving a small bow. “Like I said earlier, your mana signature is very intriguing. Not only does your mana resemble Goddess Eclair’s mana more than anyone I’ve seen, but it’s much more chaotic than anyone else I’ve ever seen,” he said. “Thank you… I think? I really ought to get going now,” Aslan said, turning to leave. “Oh, wait! I’d love to study your mana sometime! You should come to my lab!” Nasah said, as Aslan walked away, following the guards. Perhaps he could help me figure out how to use my magic. He seems pretty eccentric, but I’ll keep him in mind, Aslan thought.

  The guards led Aslan to the armory. “Come inside, grab only what you need. This is only temporary, you will have to get your own gear eventually,” the guard said sternly. Aslan nodded and headed inside. The armory had a large stock with many options for different types and styles of fighters. At the back of the room, a dwarf stood behind a counter. As Aslan walked in, he came over to him. “Lookin’ to get gear up, son?” the dwarf said, “What kind of gear are you looking for?” “For my armor, I need something light; I like to be nimble on my feet,” Aslan said. “Well, how about this?” the dwarf said. He brought a set of simple black adventurer’s gear, with leather patches in certain places. It also had leather gloves and boots. Aslan tried on the gear, “Looks good, I’ll take it. I’ll also need a weapon,” he said. “Well, we have quite the selection, daggers, shortswords, longswords, even axes or hammers, if that’s more your style?” the dwarf asked as he showed Aslan around the collection of weapons. Finally, Aslan’s eyes lay on a certain weapon, “Ah, the spear, an excellent choice, lightweight, great reach, versatile attacks, and throwing capability, so, is that what you’re going with?” the dwarf said. Aslan spun the spear around in his hands, inspecting the head, “Yeah, this is the one,” he said. Just then, Ulysses entered the armory. Upon seeing Aslan, he said, “Oh, neat, that looks pretty good on you. That gear suits your fighting style.” “I’ve always used a spear when I fight. Since I'm taller, it feels more natural to take advantage of the extra reach I have. Unfortunately, I did not have a weapon both times we fought; perhaps the outcome would have been different if I did,” Aslan said. “Is that so? Well then, I’m looking forward to seeing what you can do. Remember, I have never used my axe when we’ve fought either,” Ulysses said, brandishing his axe. “This girl’s gotten through most of my battles with me, so I only bring her out if the opponent warrants it,” he added on. “Is that supposed to be an indirect slight at me?” Aslan questioned, raising his eyebrow. Ulysses made a smug face, shrugging his shoulders sarcastically, “Who knows? I couldn’t pull her out on an unarmed opponent, even if you were impressive, and we were unfortunately interrupted before things got good,” he said, “Anyway, when you’re ready, I’ll be waiting outside the main gate, and then we can set off.”

  Aslan, with the spear slung over his back, walked out the main gated entrance to Eclair’s temple. The gate was huge, as it lifted, Aslan could see a courtyard beyond the main entrance. The view was very different from the one he saw in his room; from the ground level, the trees looked far more massive. He looked around to see Commander Ulysses standing off to the side, giving orders to the soldiers around him. Aslan walked up to him, asking the commander, “What’s going on here?” Ulysses turned around, “Oh, you’re here. Just making sure everything runs smoothly while I’m away.” Of course he IS one of the highest commanders in Eclair’s army. Of course, he’d be busy like this. Makes it more impressive that he’s the one to be training me, but I can’t be complacent, I’ll likely have to deal with him if I want to escape, Aslan thought, as the last of the soldiers walked away, a carriage parked in the middle of the courtyard. “There’s our ride,” Ulysses said, “if you’ve got any last-minute preparations, you should do them now.” “We’re taking a carriage? Through that forest?” Aslan asked, confused. The forest seemed quite dense; it definitely did not seem like a place where a carriage could easily move through. The commander smirked, “You’ll see, let’s set off,” he said, entering the carriage, as Aslan followed suit. The carriage began moving towards the forest, as Aslan watched intently, looking for some kind of trick. Then, he noticed it. As the carriage moved closer, the trees began to part, splitting to reveal a well-worn path through. The tops of the trees bent unnaturally, allowing the sunlight to shine through onto the path. “See that?” the commander said, “That’s Eclair’s power. When she said this place is her domain, that’s not limited only to the temple. Her roots stretch out much farther.” “That’s incredible, I’ve never seen magic this powerful,” Aslan said, breathless. “Like all the gods, Eclair is much more powerful than you might think. There’s a reason why the gods have been alive for so long,” Ulysses said. “Alive for so long? Does that imply that gods can perish, or that they were born?” Aslan asked. “Well, I’m not an expert, and it hasn’t happened in a long time, but each god represents something. For example, Eclair is the Goddess of Chaos. Because of this, if a god dies, a new one is born to take its place,” Ulysses explained. “Is the newborn god the same as the previous one?” Aslan asked. “No, the new god will have a different personality, but they retain the same magic and abilities,” Ulysses said. If that’s the case, then perhaps the only way for me to get out of the contract would be to eliminate Eclair, Aslan thought.

  “I should explain what this assignment is,” Ulysses said, “Your first assignment, as a part of Eclair’s army, and my apprentice, is to get your adventurer’s license. Currently, we’re headed to Rosewood City, which is the nearest city with an adventurer’s guild.” “How long will it take to get there? What else does the city have?” Aslan asked. “The trip is about 5 days. As for the city, it’s heavy into the performing arts. The lord of Rosewood City has an excellent eye for theatrical talent,” Ulysses said, “he scoops up anyone he sees potential in.” “What kind of guy is this lord?” Aslan asked. “No one really knows. He never shows himself, and his name is unknown. All we know about him is that he loves performances,” Ulysses said. “Interesting. So then, how do I get my adventurer’s license?” Aslan asked. “Usually, you’ll go to the guild and fill out an application, then you’re required to complete one quest, which helps to determine what rank you’ll be placed in,” Ulysses said. The two of them continued to talk well through the first day of the trip, and eventually, night began to fall. “Alright, we will set up camp for tonight, and continue our trip in the morning. I’ll keep first watch,” Ulysses said, “You go ahead and get some sleep. I’m sure you’re tired after everything that happened today.” Aslan obliged, lying down in the carriage and getting himself comfortable. His mind was racing with the thoughts of everything he learned, and thinking about the goddess’s magic now circulating within him, reminiscing on how it felt when he used it for the first time. He closed his eyes, feeling the mana inside of him, crackling and surging like a storm. The thought of the goddess’s magic also led him to think about his contract and the consequences that came with breaking it. My life now lies in the hands of the goddess. She offered me this contract, and I accepted it, but why? Why offer me a contract? Why not just offer me a blessing? To control me? For what purpose does she take such interest in me and go to such lengths to nurture me? Is there something she sees within me that I don’t understand? As he pondered all the questions inside his head, his body drifted off into sleep, but his mind wandered off into a dream…